Key Points
- Leeds Rhinos half-back Jake Connor has been omitted from England’s 23-player squad for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup in Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea.
- Head coach Brian McDermott selected Hull Kingston Rovers playmaker Mikey Lewis ahead of Connor to provide a dynamic point of difference in attack.
- Connor’s exclusion comes despite him finishing top of the Super League assist charts with 43 and holding the status of last year’s Man of Steel.
- McDermott publicly addressed the selection decision, clarifying that Connor narrowly missed out based on specific strategic tactical compliance.
- Wigan Warriors centre Jake Wardle and a quartet of Wakefield Trinity players were also confirmed absent due to injury and post-season surgical procedures.
Leeds (The Leeds Times) October 14, 2026 – Leeds Rhinos playmaker Jake Connor has been left out of England’s 23-player travelling squad for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup, set to take place across Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea this October and November. England head coach Brian McDermott has selected Hull Kingston Rovers star Mikey Lewis ahead of Connor, marking a high-profile omission for the tournament.
Connor’s absence comes as a surprise following an influential domestic campaign in the Super League. The former Man of Steel finished at the top of the Super League playmaking statistics with 43 try assists. However, this marks the second consecutive year Connor has missed out on major international honours, having previously been omitted from last season’s Ashes squad under former coach Shaun Wane.
Why was Jake Connor omitted from the national squad?
As reported by Aaron Bower of Love Rugby League, England head coach Brian McDermott explained his rationale during Monday morning’s official media address, stating:
“We can’t do the usual things. We’ve got to play with a point of difference. I’ve got a squad of players of how I want England to play.”
McDermott further elaborated on the marginal nature of the decision, adding:
“Jake Connor missed out on selection by a small margin, it came down to who I think can best stick to the game plan. If we do get injuries in the halves, he’d be a consideration, for sure, absolutely.”
Writing for The Guardian, sports journalist Gavin Willacy highlighted that McDermott sought an off-the-cuff, attacking philosophy to challenge nations such as Australia and New Zealand. When detailing the inclusion of Mikey Lewis over Connor, McDermott stated:
“Mikey still won a World Club Challenge with Hull KR and guided them to a cup final this year. I get he wasn’t in the best of shape in the back of the year and incurred a couple of bans, but I’ll point everyone to the attack plan and the game model I think England needs to have to compete with the bigger nations.”
As reported by Total Rugby League, McDermott also praised Lewis’s direct style, stating:
“Mikey Lewis runs and when he’s in doubt, he runs. He doesn’t die wondering. He brings a lot of attitude and at times that can spill over, but he is a tough character.”
Which other key players are missing the tournament?
Beyond the decision in the half-backs, McDermott’s squad announcement confirmed additional notable absences due to fitness concerns.
As reported by Total Rugby League, Wigan Warriors centre Jake Wardle was ruled out through injury. Explaining Wardle’s physical condition, McDermott stated:
“He had a knee issue for much of the season and we didn’t make that public. I knew Jake wouldn’t be available. He will be sorely missed as he is a tremendously tough centre and plays really well for a competitive Wigan side.”
Additionally, four players from Wakefield Trinity were excluded from selection after requiring end-of-season surgical procedures to repair ongoing injuries sustained during the Super League campaign.
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What is the background of this international selection development?
The dynamic between international head coaches and versatile playmakers has been a recurring theme within English rugby league in recent years. Jake Connor’s international career has featured significant milestones alongside period omissions. After making his debut for England in 2018 with a Man of the Match performance against New Zealand in Denver, Connor established a reputation as one of the most naturally gifted ball-handlers in the northern hemisphere.
Despite his domestic production—evidenced by his 43 assist tally for Leeds Rhinos and his prior Man of Steel award—successive England head coaches have grappled with integrating his instinctive style into structured international frameworks.
Shaun Wane opted against selecting Connor for the 2025 Ashes series, favoring halves who adhered strictly to low-error, completion-focused game plans.
Brian McDermott’s appointment as head coach brought expectations of an alterative tactical direction, given his track record of encouraging unstructured, expressive rugby.
However, the selection of Mikey Lewis over Connor underscores a continued structural preference for direct ball-carrying in the final 23-player squad. Lewis’s inclusion comes after a season with Hull Kingston Rovers marked by both silverware and disciplinary interruptions, contrasting with Connor’s elite assist statistics at club level.
How will this selection outcome affect the key stakeholders?
For Jake Connor, missing out on a major tournament Down Under represents a setback at the peak of his professional career. Having led the Super League assist charts, being left out on tactical grounds leaves his international future uncertain under the current coaching regime. From a club perspective, Leeds Rhinos will retain their primary playmaker fully rested throughout the autumn period, avoiding the physical wear of an international tournament ahead of the 2027 Super League pre-season preparations.
For head coach Brian McDermott and the national side, the decision shifts tactical accountability directly onto the chosen spine of the team. By publicly citing game-plan adherence as the decisive factor, McDermott has established clear performance expectations for half-backs Harry Smith, George Williams, and Mikey Lewis. Should England’s attacking structure struggle against Southern Hemisphere powerhouses like Australia or New Zealand, the choice to leave the competition’s top assist-maker at home will remain a central point of debate.
For supporters, the exclusion of one of the sport’s most compelling talents creates a division in expectations. While some fans champion the discipline of a rigid tactical structure, others desire the unscripted flair that Connor brings to high-stakes encounters. His absence elevates the pressure on Mikey Lewis to deliver high-impact performances on the global stage Down Under.
